AC Milan make transfer decision over USMNT full-back

Stuart Telford

• 14 Apr 2023 14:59 BST
• 3 min read

Sergino Dest will return to Barcelona in the summer after failing to make an impact on loan with AC Milan this season.

Dest joined Milan on a season-long loan deal in September, with the Rossoneri able to make the move permanent for €20 million at the end of the campaign, but they have long since given up on any plan to do so.

Dest is stuck behind Davide Calabria in Milan's right-back pecking order, and although he can also play left-back, there is no dislodging Theo Hernandez on the other flank.

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Barca had hoped to cash in on Dest given their financial dire straits - La Liga have told them to raise €200m ahead of next season - but they have little chance of getting any sum from Milan.

Back to Barca for Dest

"The plan won't change," Italian transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano posted on Twitter. "AC Milan will not trigger the buy option clause for Sergino Dest worth €20m. The USMNT full-back will be on his way back to Barcelona.

"Decision on next step of his career will be made in the next months. His last appearance with Milan was on 24 January."

READ: Barcelona to break world transfer record this summer

What comes next for Dest remains to be seen, but Manchester United and Chelsea were both linked with him last summer.

Milan have other priorities in the next transfer window, meanwhile. Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun, currently on loan in France with Reims, is of interest with incumbent strikers Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic 36 and 41 respectively.

The club are also working to renew Rafa Leao's contract, potentially making him the club's top earner above Ismael Bennacer, in an attempt to stave off Premier League interest in the Portugal winger.

Dest cost Barca €21m when he joined from Ajax in 2020, but they might have to settle for less given his abject season in Italy.